VC Commodore thoughts on keeping a family car?

[Drewie]

Just after a few thoughts and opinions, daughter has a had a VC SL Commodore for the past 10 years, very clean old bus, next to no rust, it was originally an old guys GMH company car which he took upon retirement, daughter was the 2nd owner. She has just bought herself a new Mazda 3 and did not even bother asking about a trade-in as it would have been maybe $500, the question is do you think it is worth hanging onto and spending a bit on it, I realise you would over capitalise it but it is dead original, never had an accident and very clean, power steering, air cond, good dash everything works and she has maintained it very well, like new rack, stuts, brakes, springs shocks etc. or would you advertise it and grab maybe a grand and let it go? It is a 202 auto, about 200,000km on it. Motor, trans diff etc all the original gear. Any thoughts? 26 years old at the moment, do you think it would be of any interest in another 5 to 10 years?

[Freaky]

no doubt its sounds like it is in good condition, however I would be more worried about the safety aspects and having an accident in something that old.

[Danv8]

Just after a few thoughts and opinions, daughter has a had a VC SL Commodore for the past 10 years, very clean old bus, next to no rust, it was originally an old guys GMH company car which he took upon retirement, daughter was the 2nd owner. She has just bought herself a new Mazda 3 and did not even bother asking about a trade-in as it would have been maybe $500, the question is do you think it is worth hanging onto and spending a bit on it, I realise you would over capitalise it but it is dead original, never had an accident and very clean, power steering, air cond, good dash everything works and she has maintained it very well, like new rack, stuts, brakes, springs shocks etc. or would you advertise it and grab maybe a grand and let it go? It is a 202 auto, about 200,000km on it. Motor, trans diff etc all the original gear. Any thoughts? 26 years old at the moment, do you think it would be of any interest in another 5 to 10 years?


Stick it on straight LPG and it would be a cheap as chips run about.
Although you might want to get some more poke out of them because their acceleration is as fast as a sleeping snail. :)

Might as well add this while I remember a straight LPG system and use a VK Efi manifold would work very well.

[Dacious]

I'd be amazed if you couldn't get a couple of grand for a good, clean reliable car. Put it in just cars or the trading-post or the local paper. Stick a sign on it out on the street. If you RWC it, it'll be worth a few hundred more.

There's always students or mums or even people needing a solid drive-to-work who need a good, cheap second car.

[Danv8]

Or even advetise it on other commodore/car forums or newsgroups as well.
I would say try e-bay but e-bay is rather iffy.

I'll even ask around if anyone wants a cheap VC commodore as well.

[Pulse 8]

Would make a great donor shell for someone rebuilding an original rusty or damaged VC Brock. Try the HDT/ HSV club.Worth a shot.
Happy Cruzin.

[Marco]

I'd hang on to it, and as its in clean original condition, leave it the hell alone.

At the moment, a car like that is worth basically stuff all. While you can still get parts for it fairly easily, replace anything that's looking worn out or dodgy, but leave it original.

Early Commodores aren't quite at the 'classic' stage yet, but give it another few years and it will be. I've been thinking along the same lines myself lately, and wishing I'd bought the clean original VH that I could have had for $500 or so at the auctions last year...

[Drewie]

I'd hang on to it, and as its in clean original condition, leave it the hell alone.

At the moment, a car like that is worth basically stuff all. While you can still get parts for it fairly easily, replace anything that's looking worn out or dodgy, but leave it original.

Early Commodores aren't quite at the 'classic' stage yet, but give it another few years and it will be. I've been thinking along the same lines myself lately, and wishing I'd bought the clean original VH that I could have had for $500 or so at the auctions last year...

'Marco' - I am starting to think along the lines you mention above, not worth anything at the moment, but I think once anything becomes old enough if it is in good original condition it still catches your eye and is of interest.
Besides I guess if we let all the oldies go to the crusher in the future we have nothing to look back on and see where our current rides have evolved from.
I might throw a few dollars at it and use it for a local run around might keep a few km's off the SS.

[Swordie]

I wouldn't see the car as having any great classic potentual. If the car meets your needs keep it.

[pah]

Hi Drewie,

It sounds (to me) like the kind of car that is ideally suited to keeping an LS free of parking dents and low km's.

Spending $ on a plain Jane machine to rebuild it is similar to stoking a fire with $1,000 notes. If it was a special VC (Brock Special etc), it might be worth investing $. As clean as it may be, I'd say it's prime value at the moment would be as a knock-about vehicle to avoid the bump and grind on a nice car.



PAH

[Drewie]

Hi Drewie,

It sounds (to me) like the kind of car that is ideally suited to keeping an LS free of parking dents and low km's.

Spending $ on a plain Jane machine to rebuild it is similar to stoking a fire with $1,000 notes. If it was a special VC (Brock Special etc), it might be worth investing $. As clean as it may be, I'd say it's prime value at the moment would be as a knock-about vehicle to avoid the bump and grind on a nice car.



PAH

Probably not a bad suggestion PAH might just keep it maintained and use for the shops and pubs etc.